Noel Kelly's Kids - VALE Nev Charlton. It is with great sadness that we report the passingof Neville Charlton, OAM, aged 85. Neville was awarded the OAM in this year’s New Year’s Honours List, in part, for his services to entertaining older citizens in Homes and Retirement Villages on the Central Coast.Neville has spent his later years living at Chittaway Bay. He passed away late on Friday night June 13th, after suffering a stroke. Neville had fought a spirited battle against illness over recent weeks. ‘Boxhead’ was a nickname that Neville didn’t particularly like.However, it was bestowed by his team mates and rugby league fans as an honour; very much a badge of courage. Neville was a fearless Player, who was generally regarded as the ‘best prop forward not to play for Australia’. Tough, mobile and an impressive ball distributor, Neville was also a strong leader, captaining Wests in the 1961 Grand Final v St. George. Nev Charlton played a remarkable 228 first grade games, at three Clubs, over a 16 season span. All the more remarkable when you remember that he played in a ten team competition, with only 18 games in a regular season. 1948-’53 Canterbury 61 games1954-’61 Western Suburbs 143 games1962-’63 Eastern Suburbs 24 games. Neville played for NSW in 1959 and 1961. Nev playing in the curtin raiser before NSW v QLD in 1955. Nev makes a come back to interstate football in 1961. Nev was also a impressive ball distributor. It could be speculated that Neville was overlooked for Australian selection due to his larger than life persona, certainly not his abilities.Nev. rubbed shoulders with some of the greats at Wests during the Magpies ‘Millionaires’ period: Keith Holman, Kel O’Shea, Harry Wells, Peter Dimond, Noel Kelly and many more and will be sadly missed by one and all. Nev Charlton and Phil Jackson at the 2011 Pratten Park Magpies Reunion. Nev more than a hand full. Nev leads Wests off the SCG 1961 Four great Wests players. L to right. Jim Cody, Ken Stonestreet, Doug Walkaden and Nev Charlton. Written by Bill Owens who played beside Nev at Wests in the 1950's.

Neville was awarded the OAM in this year’s New Year’s Honours List, in part, for his services to entertaining older citizens in Homes and Retirement Villages on the Central Coast.

Neville has spent his later years living at Chittaway Bay.

He passed away late on Friday night June 13th, after suffering a stroke. Neville had fought a spirited battle against illness over recent weeks.

‘Boxhead’ was a nickname that Neville didn’t particularly like.

However, it was bestowed by his team mates and rugby league fans as an honour; very much a badge of courage.

Neville was a fearless Player, who was generally regarded as the ‘best prop forward not to play for Australia’. Tough, mobile and an impressive ball distributor, Neville was also a strong leader, captaining Wests in the 1961 Grand Final v St. George.

Nev Charlton played a remarkable 228 first grade games, at three Clubs, over a 16 season span. All the more remarkable when you remember that he played in a ten team competition, with only 18 games in a regular season.

1948-’53 Canterbury 61 games

1954-’61 Western Suburbs 143 games

1962-’63 Eastern Suburbs 24 games.

Neville played for NSW in 1959 and 1961.

Nev playing in the curtin raiser before NSW v QLD in 1955.

Nev makes a come back to interstate football in 1961.

Nev was also a impressive ball distributor.

It could be speculated that Neville was overlooked for Australian selection due to his larger than life persona, certainly not his abilities.

Nev. rubbed shoulders with some of the greats at Wests during the Magpies ‘Millionaires’ period: Keith Holman, Kel O’Shea, Harry Wells, Peter Dimond, Noel Kelly and many more and will be sadly missed by one and all.